A theft incident at a local store led to the arrest of a suspect previously banned from the premises. Officials say several items were taken and concealed with the intent to permanently deprive the business of its property.
On February 22nd, at approximately 5:49 p.m., the Ottumwa Police Department was dispatched to Walmart regarding a theft report.
Amber Grooms, 42, of Ottumwa, was reported for trespassing on Walmart property. According to the criminal complaint, Grooms was observed on the store’s security cameras pushing a shopping cart out of the store without attempting to pay. The total value of the items taken was $204.10.
Court documents indicate that authorities conducted a review of Grooms’ criminal history, revealing several prior theft convictions dating back to August 2021, June 2022, and July 2022.
The Ottumwa Police Department notes that Grooms had previously been banned from the Walmart location.
Grooms was also placed under arrest on a separate charge. During a search incident to that arrest, several unpaid items were found inside her purse, valued at $82.70. Authorities state that Grooms concealed the items with the intent to permanently deprive the business of their property.
Grooms was transported to the Wapello County Jail and is currently being held on a $2,000 cash/surety bond. She waived her preliminary hearing.
Grooms is charged with Theft in the Third Degree, an aggravated misdemeanor.
Editors Note: All information was obtained from court documents related to the ongoing investigation.
